Who will speak up for you?

(click headline for the full story)

Wondering who is speaking up for you and your child when it comes to important issues such as where money will be spent when it comes to education? Then you might want to read over the unofficial meeting minutes from this week's Budget and Finance Committee meeting.

The Summary can be found on the DeKalb County School Watch Two Blog today.

There appears to be some confusion on this committee about how the cell tower money should be allocated and whether the T-mobile contracts were executed according to the plan that was voted upon and approved by the Board of Education. Superintendent Atkinson mentioned that, if needed, the board will have to re-open the subject in front of the full assembly and possibly take a vote regarding how the dollars will be allocated once they are received. We have been asking about this part of the cell tower deal from the very beginning. More importanly than how the money gets passed around is WHAT exactly do they intend to spend it on? This was a pretty big contract they locked us into for the next 30 years. So, exactly WHAT are they planning to buy that was worth all this hassle?

Before voters approved SPLOST IV, they were given a list of items the money would be earmarked to purchase, right? So, why were the parents and communities who were, supposedly, asked to give their input about the cell tower deal not given the same type of information? And, who would say, "Okay" to a deal like this, with all the risk factors and safety concerns, if they didn't really have anything in particular in mind that they were hoping to buy with the money? And, where are all these pro-cell tower people now? They were reportedly calling their board members pledging support back in June and July, but now they have just disappeared and no one bothered to take down their names or ask for their contact information? Does that sound like the school system you know?


Who will get the cell tower money?

It was widely reported in the media that the PTAs at each of the cell tower schools would be receiving $25,000, right? Well, chalk that one up to another press leak because apparantly now the board is admitting that statement is not exactly true.

During the Budget Committee meeting held Feb. 15, several issues were addressed as the members questioned Steve Donahue, Director of Facilities, and each other. The first issue: Why did the final contracts not reflect the 60/40% split with the schools as T-mobile had originally proposed? (We will have to take their word for it as the proposals have never been made public.)

The second issue: If Dekalb County School System will receive the initial deposited funds, what are the legal parameters by which they can pay money out to the school PTAs? If the money does not end up going to the PTAs, then where will it go? Will it be sent directly to the schools to oversee and spend as they wish? Who will oversee the funds? What are the stipulations for non-taxpayer revenue as far as how it can be spent?

The third main issue: If there is litigation, could it result in the possibility that the DCSS might have to "take back" any money paid out. If that were to happen and the schools had already spent the money, how would they repay it?

It sounded like more than one group may currently be preparing legal action in order to stop these cell towers. The general public is better informed than ever before and the discontent with the school board has been growing. Perhaps the board might take the opportunity to reconsider their entire process while they are re-opening the issue about the funding.




What will you do if they come for you?

If the cell towers go up and no one steps up to try to stop them, a very dangerous precedent will be set in our county. We will be setting up ALL of our schools for the potential of receiving as many cell towers and antennas as the cellular companies think they might need, without regard to our zoning laws or guidelines for safe cell tower siting as recognized by the EPA.

Once one tower is up, the flood gates will be opened and ANY cell provider can demand equal access to our school campuses under the federal law, specifically the Federal Communications Act of 1996. This Act that was passed before anyone even suspected that non-ionizing RF radiation could be dangerous or even deadly. It seeks to protect the cell phone companies by stating a local government may not discriminate between providers when making their policies for cell tower locations. Essentially, if we let one go up, we will have to let all go up. If we okay it for T-mobile, it must be okayed for any other provider who wants to do the same thing.

If we do not speak up now, we may not have a chance to do so again for 30 years. That means what we are all choosing to do or not do about this issue right now will not only affect us and our children, but for many of us, it will affect our grandchildren and even great-grandchildren.

So, as we have tried to point out, this is not just about one school or just about one neigborhood. IT is about ALL of our schools. It is about ALL of our neighborhoods.

Can we look back and learn from the lessons of Big Tabacco, Asbestos and DDT insecticides? Do we want to continue down a path that places innocent children across our county on the board room table as a factor to consider when discussing benefits vs. risks and liabilities? Doesn't every child have the right to a safe and healthy learning environment?

Cell towers present known risks to the children. The children are countinig on all of us to protect them. They have only one future. They cannot speak up for themselves. We must find a way to work together so that we can unite our county on this issue. We must speak up for the children. If you are considering legal action or would like more information on this subject, please send an email to sayno2celltowers@yahoo.com.